Brussels/Stockholm, updated 27 January 2025
Belarus: Joint statement by the EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK on the sham presidential elections
No election can be considered free, fair or in line with international standards when it is held in a climate of ongoing repression, marked by a clampdown on civil society, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on genuine political participation. The regime’s decision to invite the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe / Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe only 10 days before the elections prevented ODIHR’s access to key stages of the election process. These actions are at odds with Belarus’ international commitments and demonstrate a clear desire to avoid transparency in the electoral process.
We condemn the ongoing appalling human rights violations committed by the Lukashenko regime and call on them to release the over 1,250 political prisoners who remain unjustly detained. We urge Belarus to follow its international human rights obligations and OSCE commitments in all respects, including restoring an open civil society, to create an environment in which new elections which meet international standards can be held. We stand with the Belarusian people and recognise their right to determine their own future in a genuinely free and fair manner, without fear, oppression or external interference.
We will continue to support the aspirations of the Belarusian people for a free, democratic and independent Belarus.
Source – EEAS
Statement by the EU High Representative / Vice President Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos on the sham presidential election in Belarus
Today’s sham election in Belarus has been neither free, nor fair. The people of Belarus deserve a real say in who governs their country. The relentless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions to political participation and access to independent media in Belarus, have deprived the electoral process of any legitimacy. We urge the regime to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, over a thousand of whom are arbitrarily detained, including an employee of the Delegation of the European Union.
The regime’s decision to invite the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe / Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights only 10 days before the elections, prevented this independent body from access to key stages of the election process. This is yet another proof of a total absence of credibility of these elections.
For these reasons, as well as the involvement of the Belarusian regime in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its hybrid attacks against its neighbours, the EU will continue imposing restrictive and targeted measures against the regime, while financially supporting civil society, Belarusian democratic forces in exile, and Belarusian culture. Once Belarus embarks on a democratic transition, the EU is ready to support the country stabilise its economy and reform its institutions.
Democracy requires free, fair and transparent elections, taking place in a society where human rights prevail, without restrictions to freedom of assembly or speech and in which a pluralist media can operate freely. This is not the case in Belarus. The EU is on the side of the Belarusian people and our support in their quest for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus, as part of a peaceful and prosperous Europe, is unwavering.
Source – EEAS
Joint Statement by Nordic Baltic Foreign Ministers on Belarus, 26 January 2025
The Nordic-Baltic countries support the statement by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on support to the Belarusian people.
The Nordic-Baltic countries stand in solidarity with the Belarusian people who strive for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus. A future democratic Belarus has a place in the European family. Our countries will continue to support the tireless efforts of the Belarusian democratic forces led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and independent Belarusian civil society both inside and outside Belarus.
The Nordic-Baltic countries continue to support the democratic right of the Belarusian people to choose their leaders through free and fair elections. This requires rule of law, political pluralism, and full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as genuine democratic preconditions. None of this is, regretfully, observed in today’s Belarus. Instead, the relentless and unprecedented level of repression, including arbitrary detention and torture, mass human rights violations, severe restrictions to political participation for opponents of the regime and highly restricted access to independent media have deprived the process that took place today of any legitimacy. This is also reflected in the decision of the Belarus’ authorities to invite the OSCE ODIHR mission only 10 days beforehand.
The Nordic-Baltic countries strongly urge the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, and their effective rehabilitation. Aliaksandr Lukashenka continues to lack any democratic legitimacy.
Source – Government of Sweden
Leading MEPs reject the outcome of the sham presidential election in Belarus
Brussels, 27 January 2025
David McAllister and Małgorzata Gosiewska say yesterday’s so-called presidential election in Belarus only aimed to entrench dictator Lukashenka’s illegitimate rule.
The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister (EPP, Germany) and the Chair of the Delegation for relations with Belarus Małgorzata Gosiewska (ECR, Poland) issued the following statement on Monday.
“Yesterday, the Lukashenka regime in Belarus staged another so-called presidential election. As expected, this process was deeply flawed and did not meet the international standards for free and fair elections in the slightest. The regime systematically suppressed dissent, excluded opposition voices, and denied many Belarusians abroad the right to vote. This election only had one purpose: to entrench Lukashenka’s illegitimate rule.
The European Parliament continues to condemn the violations of democratic principles and human rights taking place in Belarus. The European Union must not recognise the results of this so-called election. Democracy cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear, repression, and the systematic silencing of opposition voices.
The Lukashenka regime’s deepening alliance with Russia, including its complicity in the war of aggression against Ukraine, has further eroded Belarusian sovereignty and destabilised the region. The European Union has responded by implementing targeted sanctions against individuals and entities linked to the regime’s repressive practices. Financial and political support has been redirected to Belarusian civil society and democratic forces. The €140 million allocated by the European Commission demonstrate the EU’s commitment to empowering those working towards democratic change and accountability.
The European Parliament stands in solidarity with the people of Belarus’ fight for democracy. The resilience of the democratic opposition, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and their courage in the face of repression is inspiring. They have our support as they pursue freedom, dignity, and the right to determine their country’s fate.”